After Jesus revealed himself to Paul on the road to Damascus, Jesus gave him his new mission in life, "Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." And Paul told king Agrippa that it was this mission from God that he went to Damascus, Jerusalem, Judea, and Gentile cities to preach the gospel that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance through their deeds. And this was why some Jews seized him in the temple court to kill him. However, God helped him, and now he stood before Agrippa and Festus. Acts 26:16-32).
After Agrippa and Festus heard Paul's testimony, they agreed that Paul did not deserve imprisonment or death, but since he appealed to Caesar, he would go to Rome to see Caesar. God transformed Paul's life from persecuting the church to preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus. Paul thought he was serving God through his religion, but through God's mercy and grace, God opened his eyes to know the Lord. God gave him a new mission of life.
We have to always remember that God is the one who can change people's hearts. So we can continue to pray for those who are not saved and share God's love and the gospel's truth with them. We were like Paul. We were lost in our sins, but by God's mercy and grace, He opened our eyes to know our Lord Jesus. And God gave us a new meaning and purpose to honor and glorify Him with our lives.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully and meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speaks to you). Who is the only one who can change a person's heart? What is my response to God for opening my eyes to know my Lord Jesus? What must a person do to be saved?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for opening my eyes to know my Lord Jesus personally. I was lost in sin, but you touched my heart to believe in the Lord. Thank you for your grace and mercy. I pray for those who have not believed in the Lord Jesus to touch their hearts to believe that they may be saved and receive a new life in you. In your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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